Jensen does it all for Iroquois

IROQUOIS - If it needs to be done on the basketball court, chances are Lauren Jensen can do it - and do it very well

The Iroquois senior standout is off to a great start and she’s one of the reasons the CHiefs are thinking big this year.

“Lauren’s one of the best players in Western New York and she comes to play every day,” Iroquois coach Frank Payne said. “Rebounds, steals, shooting ... she can do it all.”

Jensen leads the Chiefs in scoring with 14.2 points per game, rebounds with 8.5 per contestand assists with 4.2 per game. She also ranks second in steals with a total of 21 and second in blocks with six.

But Jenson isn’t worried about how those numbers stack up or any of the accolades that may come with them. With a strong group of returnees, she’s thinking about bringing a championship to Elma.

“I just want to do well for my teammates this season,” Jensen said. “We’re looking pgood this season, I’m hoping for us to win our division and do well in the playoffs.”

A year ago, Jensen ranked second on the team in points (9.7 ppg), and rebounds (122). The Chiefs were 16-4 last season but lost in the second round of the Class A-1 Section VI tournament to eventual champion Grand Island.

This year’s focus is more on the end of the season. Led by standouts like Jensen, Colleen Wirth and Jenny Colvin, the Chiefs seem to have what it takes to make a run in March.

So that’s why the so-so 3-3 start to the season isn’t a cause for concern - especially when you consider the losses came to Monsignor Martin Athletic Association teams in Nardin and Sacred Heart as well as ECIC-II frontrunner Hamburg.

“Our record is what it is, but the important thing is we’re getting better,” Payne said. “We want to keep improving and peak in the playoffs – that’s our plan.”

With a lot of players back with some experience playing together, the Chiefs are starting to find their rhythm. And that could be bad news for the rest of ECIC-II.

“I think it’s going really good for us right now,” Jensen said after a blowout win over West Seneca East in ECIC-II play. “We’re gelling as a team. Everyone is playing a lot better.”